In the E46 M3 one of the side gills serves to cool engine electronics. They are packing quite some CPU power into cars these days and just like a PC they need cooling. In general BMW lets form follow function and this is the way it worked on the M3 in the past. I suspect it will be exactly the same on the E92. If they were 100% for looks I bet BMW would really get some flak for that!

swamp2, why would they get flak for that? i'm not challenging you, just asking, because I dont understand what the big deal is with implementing design features purely for aesthetic value

BMW typically is good about design based on function over form. Wouldn't non functional side vents be a bit too ricey for a typical BMW customer? I think if they were not functional people would really call them out on it.

BMW typically is good about design based on function over form. Wouldn't non functional side vents be a bit too ricey for a typical BMW customer? I think if they were not functional people would really call them out on it.

Without a doubt, I would think of it as ricey if it were not functional. If one side is functional, and the other side is cosmetic, I would have hoped they would find another way to provide this cooling for the electronics (if that is what the vents are for). Other than that, they look just fine. Much better than the photochops.

Without a doubt, I would think of it as ricey if it were not functional. If one side is functional, and the other side is cosmetic, I would have hoped they would find another way to provide this cooling for the electronics (if that is what the vents are for). Other than that, they look just fine. Much better than the photochops.

One side is probably functional and the other side is added for balance/aesthetics. Seems like a good compromise to me. Only one was functional on the E46 M3.